I’ve been approached by several friends and family members who all mentioned that I need to put a before and after post on my blog. I am excited to do so, especially since I have already lost ten pounds! I am still getting into serious exercising – old habits die hard, and my body, after years of being sedentary, is slowly getting used to exercise. I still have a long way to go, but I am happy to report that I have already come a long way since my visit to the doctor and my switch to healthy living.
Here I am in 2007. You can’t tell my weight here, but that is because I have discreetly hidden my belly and legs from view by cunningly “showing off” my cute pocketbook. I was not happy with my size here.
Honestly, I wasn’t happy with my size here, either. This picture was taken in April this year on a trip to Vegas with my wonderful husband. I added inches and pounds after we got married and chalked it up to “happy marriage weight”, which I’m pretty sure is true. I am still extremely happy, and now that I am in a happy and solid marriage relationship, my self image isn’t nearly as bad as it used to be. That doesn’t mean I liked having a belly. Can you see me still trying to hide it?
Mother’s Day 2010. I was sooo happy on this day that i honestly didn’t think about hiding my belly, or any other part of me that showed I am overweight, which at least means I was beginning to accept me for me, however I look. You can notice my belly in this shot, though. I have had people come up and ask me when I’m due, which, as any woman knows, is embarrassing and hurtful. Please, don’t ever ask a woman when they’re due unless you’ve heard it from them that they are pregnant.
Here I am today!!!!!!! I’ve already accepted that my face is probably always going to be pudgy, since I have the face build of my Daddy’s side of the family. But – my arms, and my belly!! I am so proud!!! The ten pounds I have lost so far have obviously been lost from my belly, and I am not complaining. Now people everywhere are asking if I have lost weight (still not the best thing to say, but better than “when are you due”) or mentioning how good I look. It’s invigorating!!! I’m glad it’s not just me that notices – that helps make all of this more real.
A close up shot of my belly today. Sigh, happiness…. I am so very proud of me! I am staying strong on my high fiber, low fat diet. Today, for lunch, I had a bean burrito in a flour tortilla, grapes, and Chobani greek yogurt. MMMMy!
1/2 cup of black beans, which equals 22g of fiber. I’m still full.
Thanks again for all of your love and support. And remember – I love to hear from you! I enjoy hearing how my progress is helping others have the courage to switch to healthy living as well. It’s also great to have the support and guidance of others who have made the switch. You can also sign up for the RSS feed from my blog, or subscribe by email, on the right hand side of this page.
When were you finally honest with yourself that you weren’t living healthy?
southernfiber.wordpress.com 